Broomfield council gives initial OK to backyard chickens

First reading passes; final vote, public hearing scheduled for Feb. 26

Broomfield is one step closer to allowing residents to raise chickens after City Council on Tuesday passed first reading of an ordinance that would allow chickens in backyards in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Council voted 6-3 in favor of allowing backyard chickens under certain conditions. It will make its final decision at a final reading and public hearing scheduled for Feb. 26.

The matter has divided council members, who are split over whether allowing chickens would be a benefit to the community or an annoyance for neighbors.

Council took up the issue after residents urged Broomfield to allow chickens in single-family residential neighborhoods. Chickens are only allowed on some agricultural properties in Broomfield.

Some council members have argued that backyard chickens are a sustainable way to keep food on the table, a learning opportunity for children and it is a property owner's right to raise the animals.

"I've long been a supporter of this," said Councilman Sam Taylor, who said responsible residents and well-built chicken coops would make the change a success.

Yet other council members said chickens would create neighborhood disturbances and become a slippery slope for residents who might want the freedom to raise other animals, such as turkeys or goats.

Councilmen Todd Schumacher, David Jurcak and Bob Gaiser voted against the measure, saying chickens did not belong in residential areas where residents might be impacted by the sound, smell or sight of them.

"I don't want to keep chickens out of Broomfield, but there are areas where you can already have them, and I just don't see a reason to make a change," Schumacher said.

Councilman Wayne Anderson was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

A dozen residents spoke during public comment. All but one asked council to allow backyard chickens.

Danielle Kelley said she and her neighbors think their requests for backyard chickens are fair.

"No one is looking to set up an agricultural facility in their yard," she said. "People want some pets, and it just so happens that chickens as pets can also provide breakfast."

Juan Sanchez, whose brother lives in Arvada, said his children are delighted to help their uncle with his backyard chickens.

"The chickens are a great learning resource, and it teaches them how to handle and treat them. It's just like having a dog," he said.

Not all residents were convinced chickens were a great idea. Robert Abbott, who grew up on a farm, said chickens were fine in agricultural areas, but not residential neighborhoods.

He would not buy a home in a neighborhood with chickens, he said.

"You couldn't pry the money out of my pocket to live next to someone with chickens," he said.

Though the first version of the proposed ordinance allowed for up to three chickens in a coop that is at least 15 feet from property lines, some residents asked the restrictions be relaxed.

A 15-foot setback would restrict all but those with the largest yards from having a coop, and five or more chickens would provide families with a better supply of eggs and allow the social animals to thrive, most residents argued.

After taking some residents' suggestions, council agreed to amend the proposed ordinance to allow families to have up to five chickens as long as they are kept in a backyard coop 10 feet from property lines.

Most residents applauded the initial vote, but council still must approve the ordinance officially after a final reading and public hearing in February.

If the ordinance passes, Broomfield will join 11 other metro-area cities that allow backyard chickens. According to a staff memo, those 11 cities — which include Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont and Denver — have received few or no complaints about chickens since adjusting local laws to allow them.

If the ordinance passes, chickens still will be banned in a third of Broomfield neighborhoods, which do not allow chickens because of HOA rules.

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